No, I don't own the X-Men, and no, even though I desperately need money, I'm not making any off of this.

Sitting outside the mansion, relaxing after a mission, Scott Summers, Jean Grey, Warren Worthington III, Peter Rasputin, Ororo Munroe, Logan, Katherine Pryde, Rouge, Jubilation Lee, and Remy LeBeau didn't notice when they were stung; mosquitoes were common at that time of year. But someone did notice, and someone took those seemingly innocent stingers and gathered them up.

For those 'stings' were small robots built specially by Erik Lehnsherr. When he got back the robots with the blood of those he fought against, as well as some others, he employed a renowned scientist to cobble together prodigies from the genetic material provided.

And they succeeded.

Traci

I slouch in the chair, ignoring Opal's continuous chatter. Erik has called us all here for a meeting of something or another, but Opal, as always, is too impatient to wait quietly. Conner and Sean are talking amongst themselves, and Alex is playing a solitaire game in the corner.

Finally, Erik enters. His clothes are stranger than normal, a red and purple costume that looks horrible on him. I wince; he never did have a fashion sense. Come to think of it, neither do I—but at least I know not to wear my underwear on the outside of my pants, for crying out loud!

"My children, I have tested you, forged you, and you have all become finely tempered blades that will strike decisively and win for their wielder. I ask you to join me in my quest against humanity. Mutants are not trash to be thrown to the gutter. Come with me to transcend this meager life and become what mutants truly are: humanity's rulers."

I blink and skeptically raise my eyebrow. I know Alex will join because of the 'against humanity part', and Opal will go because of the 'ruler' part. But, come on, who did he think he was fooling with that regal talk? Sure, humans had pushed me around often enough to earn my everlasting hate, but I don't want to rule them.

Alex's eyes flash and harden. On one of his missions, he had been strung up on a cross and impaled with nails, whipped like a dog, taunted, and mutilated almost beyond recognition. He hates them and would love to give them what they gave him. "Yes," he answers, standing.

Opal acts indecisive, but she says (as everyone knew she would), "Sure. Why not?"

Erik looks us over. Conner answers first, "You have raised us from our childhood, honed our powers to the keenest point, and sheltered us from harm, Uncle. I will follow you."

Of course; Conner is loyal to the end. After all, Erik did take care of us. I suppose that does amount for something.

I know what Sean will answer now; Conner is our unofficial leader. Sean will follow his lead just as Conner will follow Erik.

Now Erik turns to me. "Well, Traci?"

I sigh and lean back languidly. "Why should I, Erik? Sure, humans have done stuff to me before, and I have no love for them. But that isn't enough to wage an entire war on them."

Erik knows me too well; that was his plan from the beginning, I suppose. "What if I had new opponents for you? Those who could give you a fight as good as you give?" he asks me.

I raise an eyebrow. "Erik, you have taken us to the Savage Land to have us live off the land, put us against your Destructo-bots, sparred me against Mystique, as well as stray Morlocks you have found, and threw me into Genosha to survive on my own. Nothing you can do will compare to that."

He nods. "Nothing I can do, but what about what someone else can do?"

I look at him intensely. "I'm listening."